In terms of fashion distinguishing between plagiarism or free inspiration has always been complex. The border between the two is labile, not entirely regulated and is the subject of a slightly subjective evaluation, so much so that more and more often it happens to come across not so much in reproductions fake but in objects produced by the chains Fast fashion As for the minor brands, which resemble so much, too much, to the pieces proposed by the big names of luxury.
Instagram Content
This content can also be viewed on the sitite it Origintes from.
To stay updated on the royalty, the celebrities, the shows and all the news from the world Vanity Fairsubscribe to ours Newsletter.
It is certainly not a recent story if you think that one of the biggest Maison of luxury, Louis Vuitton, began to fight the clever with the easy copy already at the end of the 1800s, first creating the pattern Damier – the chess one – and then the Monogram With the famous LVs to reiterate their authenticity and emerge in the crowd of pursuers.
The German Federal Court of Justice will pronounce on a case that could create an important precedent for copyright
Yes, why The world of fashion – like many other realities – it is made of protagonists who tow and pursuers who hide, behind the term inspirationthe intent to shine with reflected light (a phenomenon that is defined in the legal field). And shaking them off might seem much easier than it actually is.
In fact, the law, as far as it specifies in identifying those who plagia a text, a musical base or a work of art, is not always clear in fashionand memorable examples are counting numerous. We tell you some that perhaps you already know – and that maybe you don’t remember how they ended up – and others that perhaps have escaped you. You will discover how in terms of copyrightin the fashion field, there are still many steps to take and that one, even if small, we can do it too: to distance themselves from the copies rewarding originality.
The red sole of the Louboutin

Close-up on a couple of Decolleté Christian Louboutin with red sole.
Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesThe story of pumps by Christian Louboutin and their red sole has put back and forth from the courts of different countries for many years after, in 2008, the designer decided to record that unmistakable detail as a brand. In 2011, in fact, Louboutin caused no less than Yves Saint Laurent (who had produced a collection of red shoes, sole included) for unfair competition and counterfeiting, obviously asking for a millionaire compensation. A request that It was not 100% acceptedbecause for the American Court the exclusivity of this accessory could only be resold in relation to a shoe with contrasting upper, while the YSL signature model was totally red.

The designer Christian Louboutin autographed the sole of one of his models.
Isa Folin/Getty ImagesThe welcome in Europe, where Louboutin presented numerous causes, from Germany to Belgium, passing through Switzerland and France, taking home even if not everywhere and not completely the recognition of the exclusivity of their creations.
The red and red-blue gangs by Gucci

A Gucci bag with the stripes symbol of the brand.
Pietro d’Artrano/Getty ImagesSimilar to the story of red soles is the one that affected another emblematic detail, the red and green and red and blue bands that decorate many gucci’s garments and accessories. An element introduced by the Italian brand as early as the 1950s, and protected by copyright starting from the seventies.
In 2017, under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, the brand of Fast fashion Forever 21 begins to produce items unequivocally Copy & Paste To those produced by Gucci, Maglioni and in particular a bomber characterized by the same lines.

The actress Elisa Sednaoui in 2017 with the Gucci bomber subject to the cause at Forever 21.
David M. Benett/Getty ImagesThe defense of Forever 21 focused on the fact that this kind of ornament was to be considered common and not so distinctive, but the story ended before the ruling of the court, through a direct agreement with the Italian brand.
Versace and iconic prints ended up on Fast fashion

Jennifer Lopez Ai Grammy in 2000 with the famous Jungle Dress.
Scott GriesAnother clash between luxury brand and fast fashion giant was the one between Versace and Fashion Nova, guilty of having copied several iconic prints of the maison, such as the motif in Greek and, even, even The foliage of Jungle Dress made famous by Jennifer Lopez Ai Grammy in 2000. Versace dragged Fashion Nova in court in 2019, after a series of requests to cease the use of these prints but the story ended, two years later, with an extra judicial agreement.

Love And Juste a highlightI’m just cartier

Close-up on the bracelets Love and Juste a Cartier highlight.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty ImagesDistinctive design also according to a court are those of the Cartier house. Let’s talk about the jewels of the lines Love And Juste a highlightdesigned in the seventies of the last century by the designer Aldo Cipullo and returned to the top of many Wishlist in recent years. In 2023 the leader brand in the field of jewelery, owned by Richemont, had filed a cause against some producers (and related retailers, such as a boutique of Saint Tropez) of clearly equal bijoux.
Despite an attempt to defense by the interested parties, who tried to support the thesis that a common object like a nail lacked of originality, the Court confirmed that The collections are original enough to qualify their intellectual property.
GCDS pulls out the teeth with Shein

The sandal bite on the autumn-winter 2022/23 catwalk of GCDS.
Victor Virgile/Getty ImagesNot in the hands of the traditional court but that of social media the diatribe between the brand of streetwear GCDSfounded by Giuliano Calza, and the Chinese giant Sheinguilty of having copied and put on the market a shoe with unmistakably copied shapes from a brand model (practice that for theecommerce of the East is certainly not new, since he has received complaints and complaints from numerous emerging stylists). Calza has denounced the copy on social media, sensitizing people to be wary of these behaviors that harm the creativity of those who, fashion, make it seriously.
Today the new Chinese giants come to produce daily from 2 thousand to 10 thousand new garments per day, as shown by the data of the last edition of State of Fashion

The appeal is certainly not served to change the trend (indeed, even many users have even tried to justify those who copy and those who buy copies by blaming those who produce originals at too high prices) but can help to reflect, still one time, on how much our choices can help make the difference.
Source: Vanity Fair

I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.